Zak Starkey admits his father Ringo Starr brutally slated his drumming skills growing up – and reveals what he really thinks about The Who sacking

Growing up as the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr wasn’t the easiest for drummer Zak Starkey.

Previously of Oasis, now 59-years-old (and recently dismissed from The Who), the former drummer admitted he often faced disapproval from his father while performing on stage.

Zak openly acknowledged that the renowned rock ‘n’ roll figure, aged 84, frequently criticized his drumming abilities quite harshly, using phrases such as “scathing, incredibly harsh language.

In conversation with The Sun regarding their relationship, Zak shared: “My father didn’t pave the way for me.

He would observe me and deliver harsh, biting comments. Yet, he’s considered the supreme rock ‘n’ roll drummer globally. His skills have even improved since then.

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Apart from being dismissed recently, Zak made it clear that he holds no resentment towards his ex-The Who bandmates.

He shared with the media: “There’s no lingering resentment; it’s all about the music. Initially, they were an incredibly wild group. Pete was extremely imposing – he even spat on my drum platform.

Musician Pete Townshend shared on Instagram that Zak, who has been The Who’s drummer since 1996, is no longer with the group.

However, Zak promptly asserted on his personal social media platforms that his exit wasn’t agreed upon mutually, but rather, he was dismissed from the band.

‘Zak has been an exceptional drummer for many years. Now it’s time for something different. This is a bittersweet moment. Zak has several new ventures ahead and I wish him nothing but the best.’

In my latest musings, allow me to share some insightful reflections. The legendary rock band, The Who, seems to be preparing for the sunset of their extraordinary career, while the dynamic Zak Starkey is only 20 years into his own musical journey. With a vibrant new band and an array of thrilling endeavors on the horizon, Zak’s future shines brightly.

He should put all his effort towards ensuring its success. We hope he gets as much good fortune as possible.

In the upcoming performances, Scott (widely recognized from Roger’s solo concerts) will take over the role previously held by Zak. We eagerly anticipate that our audience will warmly receive him. Known as Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, they form a significant part of our band.

Restating The Who’s post, Zak countered: ‘I was let go just two weeks following my reinstatement, and they asked me to issue a statement claiming I left The Who to focus on other musical ventures. This would be untrue.’

I have such deep affection for The Who that I could never consider leaving them. Making a statement about quitting The Who would be unfair to all the wonderful people who supported me during those challenging weeks of ups and downs, like a yo-yo.

‘When you ask about “other projects,” I confirm that I do have other ongoing projects. As for The Who, their touring schedule has been intermittent or limited, with only two extended tours in 2000 and 2006/7.’

Zak went on to share details about his past work, mentioning that he’s been putting out singles but hasn’t had the chance to tour due to his bandmates being occupied. However, this has never affected The Who, and it’s never been an issue for them.

‘The lie is or would have been that I quit The Who- I didn’t. I love the who and everyone in it.’ 

Once more, Zak updated his Instagram, revealing that his account of the situation was once more disputed following a call with Roger Daltrey, the vocalist and guitarist of The Who.

Zak mentioned that Roger informed him he wasn’t truly terminated but chose to step down to focus on personal endeavors.

He wrote: ‘Racket & Chaos!!! I had an excellent phone conversation with Roger towards the close of last week that left us utterly bewildered!!!’ (Informal, but still understandable)

Rog clarified that I wasn’t dismissed from my position… rather, I was given the opportunity to retire and focus on my personal projects. I shared with Rog that I had invested about eight weeks at my Jamaican studio, wrapping up these projects. My band, Mantra Of The Cosmos, is set to launch a single at the beginning of June, followed by its typical run of around five to six weeks. Once that phase is over, I’ll be fully accessible for any future commitments.

Rog exclaimed “Oh!”, and we ended the conversation on a positive note, maintaining our strong friendship as we’ve always done.

‘Gotta love these guys. As my mum used to say “The mind boggles!!!” XXX.’

After learning about The Who‘s announcement that they will be stepping away from touring after an incredible 60-year run, I can’t help but reflect on the memories we’ve shared over the years. As a devoted fan, I eagerly await their final series of shows in the US later this year.

At a press gathering in London, the renowned rock group revealed that they would be embarking on a final tour, with the journey commencing in July.

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2025-06-12 11:52